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Panasonic's PV-GS300 is less expensive than two other camcorders we recently tested that have three CCD sensors. The PV-GS300 (priced at $700 as of 5/2/06) delivered impressive video quality in our tests. It's a little bulkier than some other models, at 5.3 inches long and just under 3 pounds, though it fits comfortably in the hand; the heavier components on the left side of its body mean that it will sometimes tilt to the left while you're filming. Though the record and zoom buttons are comfortable, the mode dial and joystick are a little awkward; you have to use your other hand to brace the camcorder before you can comfortably reach them.

The PV-GS300 lacks a couple of features that its more expensive cousin (the PV-GS500) has, such as a focus ring and some manual controls. The PV-GS300 can take 3.1-megapixel stills--and these photos looked good, showing strong color and fine detail.

The camcorder houses three one-sixth-inch CCD image sensors (for red, green, and blue), which makes the GS300 a strong performer: It captures video with bright, accurate colors and good detail, and it outperforms all the other camcorders except the PV-GS500 and the JVC GR-X5US. Its low-light video was a little pale, however; some objects in our test video lacked the vivid color that they showed under normal light.

This camcorder's optical image stabilization is another a big plus: An element in the lens moves to compensate for small camera movements--this is more effective than the electronic image stabilization that camcorders such as the Sony DCR-HC36 offer. The GS300's battery life is also above average: At a few minutes under 2 hours, it's long enough for a weekend trip.

The Panasonic PV-GS300 has a lot of features and is a great choice for shooters who don't mind spending a little extra money for quality, but who don't want to lay down a lot of cash for a higher-end camera such as the PV-GS500.

Richard Baguley